Summary
Rocket Leagueis a pretty unique game in the market, and it’s a miracle that we haven’t seen anything close to it in years, not even a careless clone! That makes it quite difficult to suggest something that delivers the exact same experience because there is simply nothing to scratch that very specific itch.
That being said, when Rocket League is separated into pieces, there are games that share similar aspects with each piece individually. Some of them are just as fast-paced as it, while some others require a lot of practice to master the gameplay mechanics. So, there are indeed competitive games that could lead to an overall experience likeRocket League.
Those who like the tactical and team-oriented aspect ofRocket Leaguewill probably have a blast playingRainbow Six Siegebecause it’s a game where teamplay comes first. While having a good aim is quite important, team coordination is a much bigger deciding factor inSiege, as outsmarting the opponents is always a huge possibility thanks tooperators' synergy.
Communication and having a plan before spawning on the map are the keys to success at a high level of Siege. Players must know where to open a whole, where to cover, and where to reinforce to customize the arena to their liking to oppose the attackers.
Rocket Leagueis a competitive game, but let’s not forget that everything the player does inside the arena is to drive a vehicle. So, it’s easy to say thatRocket Leaguefans do love driving, andForza Horizon 5is one of the bestarcade racingsout there that comes with incredible stunt opportunities.
Don’t mistake casual for being easy, though!Forza Horizon 5still requires a good amount of skills, and it comes with difficult online races and a lot of fun challenges across a massive open-world map that does need some practicing before tackling them.
While having a rough launch, continued updates from Blizzard eventually ledOverwatch 2to the position it deserved, though more improvements are still required to make it just as great as its predecessor, it’s now a game that anybody can enjoy, evenRocket Leaguefans!
Overwatch 2is a hero shooter that everyone can enjoy equal to the amount of effort they put into the game. Casual players will still enjoy the game as a chaotic and fast-paced shooter, while competitive players will probably gain a bit more with team communications andsynergy between heroes. And that’s quite similar to howRocket Leagueis.
WhileRocket Leagueseems to take more inspiration from soccer than American football, no one can rule out the latter entirely. And if North American players enjoy the sports aspect of the game, there is no reason for them to dislikeEA’sMaddenseries, when excluding the in-game payments!
Believe it or not, Madden is the best available option for American football, and despite having some rough years recently,Madden 25did launch to favorable reviews from the player base. This game is just as competitive as it can be with rich single-player tournaments, something thatRocket Leaguefeatures as well.
What makesRocket Leaguean exciting experience is the quick pace of the game and the fact that players have a brief timeframe to react to events on the pitch. That’s also whatApex Legendsis about, as it’s a competitive shooter born from the ashes ofTitanfall.
As a battle royale, the player never knows what lies behind the next building, so they must be ready for everything. Having a good aim is the minimum to enjoy this game while knowing about every hero’s abilities is also crucial. The battlefield in Apex Legends can turn into hell in the blink of an eye, just like 5v5 matches inRocket League.
Valoranttakes the idea fromOverwatchand implements it in a fully competitive-focused environment, where everything has been balanced to deliver a fair and equal PvP experience. The game borrows its gunplay from theCounter-Strikeseries and combines it with the hero-based system ofOverwatch.
While competitive-mindedRocket Leagueplayers canenjoyValoranta lot, there is not much room for casual gamers here. The advantage ofValorantover all other shooters listed here is that it features significantly fewer cheaters, just like Rocket League.
IfRocket Leaguewas supposed to be a shooter, it would probably be something likeThe Finals. The game perfectly uses destructible environments to add more depth to the gameplay, just likeRocket Leagueuses the arena walls and ceiling to do so.
The Finalsis a game that both casual and competitive players can enjoy. There is a high skill ceiling for competitive players though, as they need to first find the perfect team composition and then find flexible plans that can be executed based on the situation. The gameplay is chaotic, fast, and full of exciting moments.
The ultimate replacement forRocket Leagueis soccer itself with its own basic rules. With all its deep and unfair in-game purchases, theEA Sports FCseries still delivers a near-complete package of a sports simulation for everyone who has a love for soccer.
While casual players can enjoy a variety of single-player modes with flexible difficulty levels, there are also tons of modes for competitive gamers to enjoyPvP gameplay. There is even room for teamplay with the evolution of the Pro Clubs game mode.